Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-05-01
THE K. OF l. CASE
NEW DEVELOPMENTS FROM ROME.
A Sudden Change-Cardinal Gibbons Hurry
ing Home.
The AMERICAN PRELATE ALARMED.
New Light on the Papal Decision An
Important Conference.

BALTIMORE, Nd, April 3O.-Private
advices from Paris have reached this city
to the effect that Cardinal Gibbons, who
was not expected to sail for America until
the latter part of August, will return at
once
Any steamer which sails from Hayre
within the next few days may contain him
among its passengers.
Ostensibly the motive for this sudden re-
turn Is illness, for the Cardinal has been
in bad health for a number of years, and
has suffered considerably during his pres
ent trip.
In reality there are other reasons beneath
the surface. The tumult ana unrest among
the Catholics OF the United States, who are
chiefly workingmen, are likely to increase
during the summer, when thousands are
thrown out of employment and delivered
over to the teachings of leaders who tell
them that all their woes are owing to q
perverted organization of society, innately
corrupt, and who call upon their followers
to destroy.
ACTION OF THE HOLY OFFICE.
A prominent churchman here saws ::
Cardinal Gibbons has put his position
regarding the Knights of Labor upon rec
ord, and the facts he presented TO the Holy
See were of sufficient import to make a
suspension of Cardinal 1aschereaus con-
demnatiOn necessary. But those who are
inclined to view the matter rs settled in
favor Of the knights-some of the papers
say the Church has sanctioned the organ
izatiOn-are shooting beyond the mark.
The word sanction would signify, from
its derivation, sort of solemn religious
blessing bestowed upon the order. But
the action of the Holy Office has been sim
ply to withdraw its decision concerning
the order, which was hased upon Cardinal
TaSchercau's report of the facts, because
Cardinal Gibbons report presented other
facts in serious conflict with the first. This
court is constituted like all other courts of
law, where former decisions can be revoked
and the case held in suspension when fur
ther facts are presented. This is what has
occurred ut Rome.
THE KNIGHTS CASE STILL PENDING.
The case Of the Knights of Labor is
still pending 1t is well known that Car
dinal Gibbons views are not entirely in
accord with the views of other Archbish-
ops. Certain Archbishops hold that the
constitution of the Knights of Labor is all
wrong. Cardinal Gibbons holds that it il
not. Now, while Cardinal Gibbons is the
chief prelate i'll this country, the Others
also have a right to be heard. The case
remains in suspense until all their facts
and views can be laid before the Holy
Office at Rome.
1.-The threatening aspect of affairs has
caused the sudden return of the Cardinal.
1t was laid down as a law by the recent
Plenary Council that when a society was
to he condemned it should he done only
by council of all the Archbishops in the
country, duly summoned for the consider
alton of the facts. Hitherto the anomaly
has existed of a society condemned in one
diocese and approved in another. This
often
LED ~ SNANbhIsoN1 V'AhhElsS'
"a council of the ArchbishOps-t
in all-can be speedily brought together,
and, he it noted, these councils will he
held without any ceremonial display. The
twelve gentlemen who will meet Cardinal
Gibbons at his residence in this city will
come and depart with hardly an echo of
their presence going abroad. They will
meet like a committee around table for
the discussion Of weighty matter, but
one entirely relating to facts. Each Arch
bishop will submit the data he has gath
cred and the views they have led him to
form, and concordance of opinion will, if
possible he reached. If they fail in this,
then two reports will be made, majority
and n minority report, and both transmit
ted to Rome. A careful consideration of
the matter may lead the Holy Office TO
continue the suspension and reserve its
final decision for future development Of
facts. OF course throughout the most
will mark the discussions of
the Archbishops, even though their views
widely diyerge.
STRUCK THE KEYNOTE.